Saturday 27 July 2024

The Clash - Sound System Album • 2013

Sound System is a box set collection by the Clash released in September 2013. The box contains the band's studio albums (but excludes the post-breakup album Cut the Crap) newly re-mastered by Mick Jones, with a further three discs featuring demos, non-album singles, rarities and B-sides, a DVD with previously unseen footage by both Don Letts and Julien Temple, original promo videos and live footage, plus an owner's manual booklet, reprints of the band's original 'Armagideon Times' fanzine and merchandise including dog tags, badges, stickers and a poster. The boom box packaging was designed by Paul Simonon. The set was released simultaneously with 5 Album Studio Set, which contains only the five studio albums, and a greatest hits package titled The Clash Hits Back.

In a September 2013 interview, Mick Jones announced the box sets and hits package will be the final time he works on anything involving the Clash and their music. "I'm not even thinking about any more Clash releases. This is it for me, and I say that with an exclamation mark," Jones said.

The Clash - Live at Shea Stadium Album • 2008

Live at Shea Stadium is a live album by the English punk rock band The Clash. It was recorded at Shea Stadium in New York City on 13 October 1982, the band's second night opening for The Who; the concert was produced by Kosmo Vinyl. The album features Terry Chimes on drums instead of Topper Headon, who was fired for heroin abuse earlier in the year. The original recordings were unearthed by Clash frontman Joe Strummer while packing for a move. The album was released in the United Kingdom on 6 October 2008 and in the United States the following day.

The Clash - From Here to Eternity (Live) Album • 1999

From Here to Eternity: Live is a live album by English punk rock band The Clash, released on 4 October 1999 through Epic Records. The album's songs were selected from various Clash concerts recorded between 1977 and 1982. Some of the recordings featured also appear in the film Rude Boy (1980). "London's Burning", "What's My Name" and "I Fought the Law" were instrumentally overdubbed to repair some technical deficiencies of the original live recording.

The album comprises 17 songs, with a further 2 songs released as iTunes bonus tracks.

The Clash - Cut The Crap Album • 1985

Cut the Crap is the sixth and final studio album by the English punk band the Clash, released on 4 November 1985 by CBS Records. It was recorded in early 1985 at Weryton Studios, Munich, following a turbulent period: co-founder, lead guitarist and co-principal songwriter Mick Jones and drummer Topper Headon had been dismissed by lead vocalist Joe Strummer and bassist Paul Simonon. Jones and Headon were replaced by three unknowns: guitarists Vince White and Nick Sheppard and drummer Pete Howard. During the tense recording sessions, Clash manager Bernie Rhodes and Strummer fought each other for control over the band's songwriting and musical direction.

Strummer and Rhodes co-wrote most of the songs. During production, Rhodes took charge of the arrangements, track sequencing and the final mix. His production choices, which rely heavily on Strummer's preference for synthetic drum sounds and Rhodes' own inclusion of sampling, were widely derided. One writer described the album's sound as brash and seemingly "designed to sound hip and modern—'80s style!". Rhodes chose the album title, taken from a line in the 1981 post-apocalyptic film Mad Max 2. The recording process and tension between Rhodes and Strummer left other band members disillusioned. White's and Sheppard's contributions are almost entirely absent in the final mix, and Howard was replaced by an electronic drum machine. Epic Records hoped the album would advance the Clash's success in the United States, and planned an expensive video for a lead single.

On release, Cut the Crap was maligned in the UK music press as "one of the most disastrous [albums] ever released by a major artist". Strummer disowned the album and dissolved the Clash within weeks of its release. He performed only one song from the album live during his solo career, and the album has been excluded altogether from most of the Clash's compilations and box sets. Although it is still generally regarded as the band's worst album, contemporary critics have praised Strummer's songwriting and vocal performance, especially on the tracks "This Is England", "Dirty Punk" and "Three Card Trick".

The Clash - Combat Rock Album • 1982

Combat Rock is the fifth studio album by the English rock band the Clash, released on 14 May 1982 through CBS Records. In the United Kingdom, the album charted at number 2, spending 23 weeks in the UK charts and peaked at number 7 in the United States, spending 61 weeks on the chart. The album was propelled by drummer Topper Headon's "Rock the Casbah" which became a staple on the newly launched MTV. Combat Rock continued the influence of funk and reggae like previous Clash albums, but also featured a more radio-friendly sound which alienated Clash fans. While the recording process went smoothly, the producing process of the album was tiring and full of infighting between Mick Jones and Joe Strummer. Headon's heroin addiction grew worse and he slowly became distant from the band while Strummer and bassist Paul Simonon reinstated Bernie Rhodes as manager, a move unwelcomed by Jones. The band had disagreed on the creative process of the album and called in Glyn Johns to produce the more radio-friendly sound of Combat Rock. Lyrically, Combat Rock focuses on the Vietnam War, postcolonialism, the decline of American society, and authoritarianism.

Combat Rock is the group's best-selling album, being certified double platinum in the United States and reaching number 2 in the U.K. Reception to the album believed the band had reached its peak maturity with Combat Rock, as the album's sound was less anarchic but still as political as previous albums. It contains two of the Clash's signature songs, the singles "Rock the Casbah" and "Should I Stay or Should I Go". "Rock the Casbah" became highly successful in the United States and proved to be the band's anticipated U.S breakthrough. "Should I Stay or Should I Go" was not as successful until being re-released in 1991 and topping the charts in their native United Kingdom. Combat Rock is the last Clash album featuring the classic lineup of the Clash. Topper Headon (due to his heroin addiction) was fired days before the release of Combat Rock and Mick Jones was fired after the end of the Combat Rock tour in 1983. Combat Rock would be succeeded by the Clash's last album, Cut the Crap, recorded and released without Mick Jones or Topper Headon in 1985.

The Clash - Sandinista! Album • 1980

Sandinista! is the fourth studio album by the English punk rock band the Clash. It was released on 12 December 1980 as a triple album containing 36 tracks, with 6 songs on each side. It crosses various genres including funk, reggae, jazz, gospel, rockabilly, folk, dub, rhythm and blues, calypso, disco, and rap. For the first time, the band's songs were credited to the Clash as a group, rather than to Joe Strummer and Mick Jones. The band agreed to a decrease in album royalties in order to release the 3-LP at a low price.

The title refers to the Sandinistas in Nicaragua, and its catalogue number, 'FSLN1', refers to the abbreviation of the party's Spanish name, Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional.

Sandinista! was mostly well received, though there was criticism towards the large size of the triple album. Sandinista! is the lowest charting album for the Clash in their native United Kingdom. However, the album was influential in the punk rock movement with its experimental sound and was voted best album of the year in the Pazz & Jop critics poll in The Village Voice. In 2020 it was ranked number 323 on the Rolling Stone list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" and Slant Magazine listed the album at number 85 on its "Best Albums of the 1980s" list.

The Clash - London Calling Album • 1979

London Calling is the third studio album by the English rock band the Clash. It was originally released as a double album in the United Kingdom on 14 December 1979 by CBS Records, and in the United States in January 1980 by Epic Records.

The Clash recorded the album with producer Guy Stevens at Wessex Sound Studios in London over a five- to six-week period starting in August 1979, following a change in management and a period of writer's block for songwriters Joe Strummer and Mick Jones. Bridging a traditional punk rock sound and a new wave aesthetic, London Calling reflects the band's growing interest in styles beyond their punk roots, including reggae, rockabilly, ska, New Orleans R&B, pop, lounge jazz, and hard rock. Lyrical themes include social displacement, unemployment, racial conflict, drug use, and the responsibilities of adulthood.

The album was a top ten chart success in the UK, and its lead single "London Calling" was a top 20 single. The album has sold over five million copies worldwide, and was certified platinum in the US for sales of one million. It was also met with widespread critical acclaim and has retrospectively been named one of the greatest albums of all time. On Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, London Calling was ranked number 8 in the 2003 and 2012 editions, and number 16 in the 2020 edition. In 2010, it was one of ten classic album covers from British artists commemorated on a UK postage stamp issued by the Royal Mail.

The Clash - Give 'Em Enough Rope Album • 1978

Give 'Em Enough Rope is the second studio album by the English punk rock band the Clash, released on 10 November 1978 through CBS Records. It was their first album released in the United States, preceding the US version of the self-titled studio album. The album was well received by critics and fans, peaking at number two in the United Kingdom Albums Chart, and number 128 in the Billboard 200. The album is tied with Combat Rock (1982) for being the highest-charting album for the Clash in their native United Kingdom.

The album marked the first album appearance of drummer Topper Headon, who joined the band shortly after the recording of their first studio album. Most of the tracks, as with the prior album, were written by guitarists Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, with the exception of "English Civil War" (a reworking of the traditional American folk song "When Johnny Comes Marching Home") and "Guns on the Roof", which is credited to all four band members, being Headon, Jones, Strummer, and bassist Paul Simonon.

The Clash - The Clash Album • 1977

The Clash is the debut studio album by the English punk rock band the Clash, released on 8 April 1977 through CBS Records. Recorded and mixed over three weeks in February 1977 for £4,000, it would go on to reach No. 12 on the UK charts, and has been included on many retrospective rankings as one of the greatest punk albums of all time.

Songs on the album were composed by guitarists Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, with the notable exception of the reggae cover "Police and Thieves". The song "What's My Name" is co-credited to Clash founding member Keith Levene, who left the band in September 1976.

Several songs from the album's recording sessions, including "Janie Jones", "White Riot", and "London's Burning" became classics of the punk genre and were among the first punk songs to see significant presence on singles charts. The Clash featured Jones and Strummer sharing guitar and vocal duties, with Paul Simonon on bass and Terry Chimes on drums, his only studio appearance with the band. (Chimes and Rob Harper drummed intermittently with The Clash until Topper Headon joined the band as permanent drummer in May 1977.) Chimes was credited as "Tory Crimes" on the album's original sleeve.

The Clash was not released in the US until 1979, making it the band's second US release. The US version also included a significantly different track listing, changing the track order and swapping out several songs for non-album tracks recorded in the interim.

Friday 26 July 2024

Alesha Dixon - Fired Up Album • 2006

Fired Up is the debut solo album by English singer Alesha Dixon. Her first solo project, conceived after the disbandment of her former band, girl group Mis-Teeq, Dixon worked with a variety of producers on the album, including Peer Åström, Anders Bagge, Johnny Douglas, Paul Epworth, Brian Higgins, Richard Stannard, and Xenomania. Initially scheduled for a 6 November 2006 release through Polydor and Victor Entertainment in the United Kingdom, it was postponed indefinitely after Dixon was dropped by Polydor several days before its release.

The album was preceded by two singles, including lead single "Lipstick", a top-twenty hit on the UK Singles Chart, and follow-up "Knockdown". Fired Up eventually received a physical release in Japan and Taiwan in 2008, where it was issued along with new artwork, a re-worked listing order, and additional tracks, including two remixes and the new track "Voodoo". Dixon later exclusively sold Fired Up in the UK as merchandise on her tour, The Alesha Show, supporting the album of the same name.

Alabama - My Home's In Alabama Album • 1980

My Home's in Alabama is the fourth studio album by American country music band Alabama, released in May 1980 on RCA Nashville. It was the band's major label debut and breakthrough album, peaking at No. 3 on the Country album charts and no. 71 on Billboard 200.

The title track pays homage to Alabama's southern rock roots. It reached No. 17 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in early 1980. Two other tracks — the fiddle-heavy, southern rock-influenced "Tennessee River" and the ballad "Why Lady Why" — were the band's first two No. 1 songs, and laid the foundation for what became one of the most impressive popularity runs in country music history.

Also included on My Home's In Alabama is the band's 1979 single, "I Wanna Come Over", which peaked at No. 33 in November 1979. Both that song and the better-known title track were originally issued by MDJ Records, before the band was signed to RCA in early 1980. The album eventually became the group's first major-label debut studio album to be distributed by RCA Records in Nashville.

Al Martino - I Love You Because Album • 1963

I Love You Because is the sixth album by American recording artist Al Martino. It peaked at number seven on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart in 1963. Its biggest hit was "I Love You Because", which peaked at number one on the adult contemporary chart on May 25, 1963, and later peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 on June 1, 1963.

Air Supply - Air Supply Album • 1976

Air Supply is the debut album by British/Australian soft rock band Air Supply released on CBS Records in December 1976. The lead single "Love and Other Bruises" was released in October, reaching No. 6 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart, followed by the album peak at No. 17 on the Kent Albums Chart. While the album reached gold status in Australia, the second single "Empty Pages" did not reach the Top 40 in February 1977. The album was issued as Strangers in Love in Japan.

The album preceded the band's international recognition, which followed Lost in Love in 1980; the band would later release another self-titled album in 1985.

a-ha - Hunting High and Low Album • 1985

Hunting High and Low is the debut studio album by the Norwegian synth-pop band a-ha, first released on 10 June 1985 by Warner Bros. Records in Norway and the United States, an then released in the United Kingdom and Europe on 25 October 1985. The album was a huge commercial success, reaching high positions on charts worldwide. The album was recorded at Eel Pie Studios in Twickenham, London, and produced by Tony Mansfield, John Ratcliff and Alan Tarney.

Aerosmith - Aerosmith Album • 1973

Aerosmith is the debut studio album by the American rock band Aerosmith, released on January 5, 1973, by Columbia Records. "Dream On", originally released as a single in 1973, became an American top ten hit when re-released on 27 December 1975. The album peaked at number 21 on the US Billboard 200 album chart in 1976.

Adam & The Ants - Dirk Wears White Sox ()

Adam Ant - Friend Or Foe

Thursday 25 July 2024

Gin Blossoms - New Miserable Experience

The Cranberries - Stars: The Best Of The Cranberries 1992-2002

Sugababes -- Taller In More Ways

The Stranglers - Tank

The Jam - Eton Rifles

Miley Cyrus - Midnight Sky

Avril Lavigne - Bois Lie (Acoustic) (feat. Machine Gun Kelly)

Maggie Reilly - Moonlight Shadow (2021)

Mabel - Finders Keepers (feat. Kojo Funds)

Madonna - Gambler

Clean Bandit & Jess Glynne - Real Love (Remixes)

Tuesday 16 July 2024

John Peel Played It Too

PLAYING NOW
Played the track "The Sparrow" by Simon & Garfunkel on 6th August 1967
Played the track "Dust My Blues" by John Mayall on 12th July 1967
Played the track "It Hurts Me Too" by John Mayall on 6th August 1967
Played the track "Hey Grandma" by Moby Grape on 6th August 1967
Played the track "Waves" by Norma Tanega on 6th August 1967
Played the track "We Love You" (track 143) by The Rolling Stones on 6th August 1967
Played the track "Burning Of The Midnight Lamp" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience on 6th August 1967
Played the track "Part Of The Wind" by Tim Hardin on 6th August 1967
Played the track "Baby, You're A Rich Man" by The Beatles on 6th August 1967
Played the track "The Sparrow" by Simon & Garfunkel on 6th August 1967
Played the track "The Duke Regains His Chops" by The Mothers Of Invention on 6th August 1967
Played the track "A Little Bit Of Shangri-La" by Our Plastic Dream on 6th August 1967
Played the track "Crying Won't Make Me Stay" by Maxwell Street Jimmy on 6th August 1967
Played the track "Milk And Honey by Jackson C Frank on 6th August 1967
Played the track "Rollin Machine" by The Seeds on 6th August 1967
Played the track "Why?" by The Byrds on 6th August 1967
Played the track "All You Need Is Love" by The Beatles on 12th July 1967
Played the track "Epistle to Dippy" by Donovan on 12th July
Played the track "Down In The Bottom" by Howlin Wolf on 12th July 1967
Played the track "Granny Takes A Trip" by The Purple Gang on 12th July 1967
Played the track "You Don't Have To Go" by The Misunderstood on 12th July 1967
Played the track "Big Boss Man" by Jimmy Reed on 12th July 1967
Played the track "Sagittarius" by The Zodiac on 12th July 1967
Played the track "Fly Away" by Blues Project on 12th July 1967
Played the track "Rock My Plimsole" by Jeff Beck on 12th July 1967
Played the track "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane on 12th July 1967
Played the track "Foxy Lady" by Jimi Hendrix on July 12th 1967
Played the track "February Sunshine" by The Rose Garden on 12th July 1967
Played the track "Fixing A Hole" by The Beatles on 12th July 1967
Played the track "It Hurts Me Too" by John Mayall's Bluesbreakers on 19th July 1967
Played the track "Blues For The Muse" by The Incredible String Band on 19th July 1967
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